“Ah, Mrs. Wahkin, there you are,” Hemlock said, almost in relief. “Your father is on the phone, asking to speak with you.”
“I can take Ava down to the phone room,” Charlie offered, and he spun my chair the other way.
“Oh no, dear, he’s not calling the main line. He contacted me directly,” Hemlock informed us. “Less of a chance you’ll be… overheard.”
“Must be important.” I tilted my head.
“It certainly can’t wait,” Hemlock confirmed.
Charlie hovered behind, but I said, “You guys should go to the Arts & Crafts room like we planned. I’ll catch up with you once I’m done.’
“I can wait,” Charlie offered.
“This will be a long conversation. Time to get on with it,” Hemlock jabbed.
Charlie took the hint from her that I needed space, and Oberi guided him off after Marcus and Kallie. Hemlock opened the door for me, and I rolled inside, heading toward the antique rotary phone lying on her desk. Old technology was the only kind that worked on campus. I picked up the receiver and Hemlock shut the door behind me, standing outside to guard the entrance.
I put the phone to my ear. “Daddy! I’m so happy you called!”
“You sound much better,” Daddy noted. His voice, which appeared heavy, lightened when he said the words. “Are you doing okay? Treatment going good?”
“Um, well, I got kicked out of physical therapy,” I confessed. “But it’s fine. Charlie and I are doing the exercises on our own. We don’t need those doctors, anyway.”
Daddy grumbled something I couldn’t decipher, before he said, “How’s your pain?”
“It’s… manageable.” I couldn’t say anything more positive without telling an outright lie.
“Just take it day by day. We’re all here for you.”
I wasn’t here to talk about my health. I wanteddetails, ones I wasn’t getting anymore because the Warden didn’t let us watch the news.“Have you made any peace talks?”Or more declarations of war…
“Don’t worry about all of that. Your mother and siblings are inHok’evale, safe and sound, and Kinpago is standing its ground, for now. Just focus on feeling better, and we’ll handle everything back home.”
“I’m really glad you’re all safe.”
“It’s wonderful to hear from you. Though that’s not the reason I called.” Daddy didn’t sound happy… rather, he sounded miserable. “I’m sorry, Ava-Marie. I wish I had happier news.”
My throat seized up as I asked, “What’s going on?”
“I called to tell you that John Smith has been arrested. Your Uncle Jonah caught him attacking another girl, a freshman at Orenda Academy.”
Pieces of myself that I thought had been put back together began crumbling inside of me. I did my best to hold it together, but was only able to whisper, “Ancestors, no.”
“Unfortunately, your uncle got there too late to stop it, though he did intercede before it went any further.”
My mouth went completely dry. “Further?” I squeaked.
“I don’t need to tell you the details, peanut.”
What Daddy didn’t say amplified my worst fears. John had escalated from rape to attempting to murder his victims.
That could’ve beenme.For the first time, I was glad I was in a wheelchair, because if I had been standing and not sitting, I would’ve been unable to remain upright. “What did Uncle Jonah do?”
“He nearly killed him, to tell you the truth. The thought of refusing to traumatize that girl more than she already was held him back.”
I swallowed the knot in my throat. It settled over my heart, invading my ribcage. “Well… at least he got caught, and people know what he is now.”
“It’s more than that, peanut. Since his arrest, four other Toaqua girls have come forward with accusations. The Elders are going to prosecute with some heavy charges. If convicted, he faces a number of years in the Hawkei prison.”
